Elora, ON
We visited Elora during my parents’ visit, on Mother’s Day ’22. Rita and I returned to the area with visitors a few times, and alone for some hiking in June ‘23.
Sightseeing From Victoria Park, you can see the Elora Gorge and its Falls. If you choose to take the steep stone staircase, you can explore right down at the river itself. I let Rita off to have a dip and play with the other dogs. Also check out the lookout at Lover’s Leap, which is encased in a tale of a heart-broken Indigenous maiden who jumped to her death.
Downtown, we had fun at the Tall Man sculpture, "It’s a Question of Who’s in Charge", which was originally bought by a self-named group of artists called the Village Idiots for $1,800, but as of 2019 has belonged to the township. We also discovered the Elora Clock Tower, a collaborative effort by local artists erected in 2018. It’s also nice to wander across the bridges for more views of the gorge.
Shopping Elora is a quaint town to wander around and the shops look so enticing from the outside, we couldn’t help but venture in! In particular, Elora Mews, a small courtyard housing a variety of shops, is a must-go. Our favourites had to be Seasons Home and Gifts, Jammed Lovely and nearby Karger, all of which welcomed Rita!
Eating As it was Mother’s Day we reserved a table for 3 at The Wild Tart for a special afternoon tea. This is paws-down one of my favourite places to eat, as they allow dogs inside and out, providing dog beds and water. Each of the staff came over to give Rita cuddles and treats too. On top of this, the (human) food is great! Each of my parents got the “classic” options, while I went for the vegan one. We both had beetroot salads for starters, follow by three-tier spectacles with sandwiches, scones, cakes and macaroons, complete with unlimited loose-leaf tea. Mum and Dad went for Verbena Blues, which changed colour from blue to purple upon a squeeze of lemon juice! It was all delicious, but we couldn’t finish it all so had to bring some home in a box!
A sister restaurant is The Badley, which I visited with Emma in August ’22. Rita enjoyed a snooze on the patio while we enjoyed some refreshments. For dessert, head to Remi’s Place for an ice-cream: dogs eat free on weekdays!
Kissing Bridge A short drive from Elora is the West Montrose Kissing Bridge, the only remaining covered bridge in Ontario. Over 200 feet long and in existence since 1881, it has hence been designated as having cultural significance. To visit, pull over at the side of the quiet road and walk through the bridge. Perhaps you’ll get a kiss!
Hiking Elora Gorge Conservation Area is open in the summer months. Follow the signs to the hiking trails to find the relevant car park. The main trail is a 3km loop along the 22-metre high cliffs overlooking the rapids. There are a couple of points where you can take stairs down to the lookout spots, one of these known as the “hole in the rock” (see photo below). The forest trail is easy to follow with safety barriers to prevent anyone falling over! At the tip of the loop, we took the bridge across the river, which is in almost the same spot as the first footbridge across the river, a felled pine in 1819 called the “Indian Bridge”. From here, you can walk along the roadway to reach the tubing launch point. Anyone can walk down here, not just tubers, and Rita was happy to have a splash around, before back tracking and continuing the loop back to the car.
Note dogs are not allowed at the nearby Elora Quarry Conservation Area.
